How To Avoid The 5 Most Common Causes Of NJ Car Accidents

How To Avoid The 5 Most Common Causes Of NJ Car Accidents

Vehicles have more safety features than ever before but accidents still happen every day. In fact, auto accidents account for a significant number of injuries and death in the United States each year. Even a minor accident can be frustrating and stressful as your car may need repairs which means you may be without it for some time. Although there are many different accident causes, there are five that account for the largest percentage throughout the country. These tips can help you avoid being included in those statistics.

Distracted Driving

In 2015, 391,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents but only 290,000 were injured by drunk drivers. Although more people died that year in drunk driving accidents, the fact that so many were injured indicates how dangerous it is to be distracted while driving. Distracted driving is more than just texting. People put on makeup, food and even the morning newspaper. The best way to avoid being involved in a distracted driving accident is to do things like putting on makeup, reading the paper or eating at home and not while driving. Use a Bluetooth device for your phone so that both your hands remain on the wheel.

Drunk Driving

Although distracted driving is becoming the leading cause of accidents in the country, drunk driving is not far behind, despite significant education designed to prevent it. Too often, people believe that the two or three drinks they had were not enough to impair them, so they drive when they should not. In addition, people who may have alcohol abuse issues may choose to drive even if they know they are impaired. The best way to avoid a drunk driving accident is to not drink at all if you are driving. If you do drink, take a cab or find a designated driver.

Aggressive Driving

Driving at high rates of speed, rapid lane changes, tailgating and other unsafe, aggressive driving habits are another leading cause of accidents. Not only is it unsafe for you, it is unsafe for others on the road. If you find yourself driving aggressively, consider taking a defensive driving course to learn better driving habits. Keep safe distances between vehicles, signal before changing lanes and be aware of other vehicles on the road.

Road Rage

Although similar to aggressive driving, road rage describes when you get angry behind the wheel of the car and then take it out on other vehicles on the road. For example, whipping around a car and pulling in front of them because they cut you off on the highway or riding too closely to intimidate them. Almost every driver has road rage at some point, but it is critical that you get it under control. A defensive driving course may help you adjust your attitude on the road.

Poor Maintenance

It is critical that you keep your vehicle well maintained. Failed brakes, blown tires and engine failures cause a high number of accidents each year. Follow your manufacturers recommendations for routine maintenance such as oil changes, brake checks and other inspections that keep your car running smoothly. Ask your mechanic to check for brake line rust as snapped brake lines are common. Worn tires are another common cause of maintenance related accidents.

These tips can help you avoid accidents by preventing their common causes. For more information, fill out the easy form online.

Here’s What To Do If You’ve Hit A Parked Car

Here's What To Do If You've Hit A Parked Car

According to the National Safety Council, one in five accidents happens in parking lots and a study by Allstate Insurance found that 69 percent of all hit-and-runs involve parked cars. If you hit someone in a parking lot or you discover your vehicle has been damaged in a parking lot, there are things you can do to protect yourself.

Here’s What To Do If You’ve Hit A Parked Car:

Don’t Leave the Scene

Even if you are in a parking lot, striking another car is an accident and the law requires that you remain on the scene. If you leave, you could be charged with a hit-and-run, even if the damage is minor. Most parking lots today have video surveillance so it is highly likely your license plate can be reported to police. If the police have to track you down, the punishment will be severe with fines, possible license suspension and as many as six points added to your license.

Locate the Owner

You can step into a business that uses the parking lot in order to find the owner of the car. Take down the license plate as well as the make and model of the car. If you are in the parking lot of a mall or department store, they should announce over the PA system that the owner needs to report to the parking lot. If you are unable to find the owner, leave a note with your name, address, contact number and an explanation of what happened. Don’t include any insurance information and don’t give too many details. For example, you don’t want to say you were not paying attention as this can be used against you later. Tuck the note under the windshield wiper and be sure to use ink that will not run should it rain. In some states, you can be fined for not leaving contact information.

Photos and Witnesses

If possible, take photos of any damages as well as the license plate number of the other car. This can protect you from the other person claiming damages that did not exist at the time of the accident. Look around to see if anyone else in the parking lot saw what happened. Be sure to get their contact information and ask them to write down what they saw.

If Someone Hits Your Car

If you discover your car has been hit in a parking lot and the person did not stay or leave a note, call the police to get a report. They can ask for video surveillance that could identify the suspect. Take photos and look for witnesses who may have seen the accident.

Always contact your insurance company whether you were at fault in a parking lot accident or it was caused by someone else. For more information, contact us today by filling out the easy form online.

How To File An Auto Insurance Claim In New Jersey

How To File An Auto Insurance Claim In New Jersey

No matter how careful you are behind the wheel, there is a chance that you will be involved in an accident at some point. An accident can be caused by a tree limb falling on your car in your driveway during a storm or someone running a red light as you head to work one morning. No matter what caused the accident or who was at fault, you will need to know how to file an auto insurance claim for your damages.

When Should You File a Claim in New Jersey

You need to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Claims should be filed for vandalism, if your car was stolen or if the damage was caused by something other than a collision, like a tree limb or fire. Your insurance card will have the phone number of your insurance company or agent and most companies have after hours numbers you can call if your claim occurs at night, on weekends or on a holiday. Some companies will allow you to file your claim online as well. If you only have liability coverage on your vehicle, you will not be able to file a claim for damages to your own car as that only covers damage to someone else’s car or property. Collision and comprehensive coverage will pay for damage to your own car.

Information You Will Need

When you contact the company, you will need to give them your full name and policy number as well as the start and end dates of your policy. They will need to know the date and time the damage occurred as well as the names, addresses and phone numbers of any drivers, passengers and witnesses. You will also need to provide driver’s license and plate numbers for all vehicles involved. If the damage was the result of a collision, the insurance company may also require a copy of the police report which often has all the information included regarding the drivers and vehicles.

NJ Claims Process

Once your claim is filed, it will go through a process at the insurance company. First, the case will be assigned to a professional, normally an adjustor, who will handle the claim. The adjustor will review your coverage with you and review the details of the accident. An evaluation will be made which could include inspection of your car, reviewing injury reports and taking a sworn statement from you about the circumstances. They may offer you an initial payment to cover the cost of a rental car and other expenses. When the investigation is complete, the company will offer you a settlement. You may want to discuss your options with an attorney depending on the severity of the accident. Once you accept the settlement, the case is closed.

Injury Claims

If you were injured in an accident that was not your fault, your injuries may be covered by the other drivers’ bodily liability coverage. In a no-fault state, your personal injury protection coverage pays for your injuries. You may also have additional medical payments coverage that could cover the cost of injuries suffered by other passengers or if you were injured as a pedestrian. Your uninsured/underinsured coverage will also cover you if the other driver does not have enough insurance to pay for your injuries or has no insurance at all. If you are injured, take photos of the scene and any visible injuries. Visit a doctor immediately to document any injures. Be aware that accident injuries may not become evident until a day or so after the accident, so if you develop additional problems, see a doctor right away. Document any time missed from work, paid transportation to medical appointments and any other expenses such as medical equipment.

After an accident, it is critical to file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. If you are injured, visit a doctor immediately and follow all instructions you are given. Document all details of the crash and any injuries. If you have been in an accident and need assistance, schedule an appointment today.